Sparking device for explosive-engines.



'No. 8%,775. Y PATENTED- JULY 28,1908. C. R. GREUTER.

'SPARKING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

- 2 SHIBETSSHBBT 1;

APPLICATION FILED APB-25,1907.

13mm cone atto'amug T 0 all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. GREUTER, OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MATHESONMOTOR OAR COMPANY, OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION.

SPARRING- DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed April 25, 1907. Serial No. 370,276.

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. GREUTER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, have invented newand useful Im rovementsin Sparking Devices for Exp osive- Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to s arking devices for explosive engines,particu arly of the type which produce a spark by the making andbreaking of the electric circuit in contradistinction to the jump sparkclass of sparkers.

To this end the invention contemplates certain novel and practicalimprovements in a make and break sparking device involving what is knownin the art as ahammer action, and having in view, as a s ecial object,the provision of means for re ieving the main presser spring fromstrain, while at the same time keeping the mechanism in perfect'time,and continuing to do so until the wear is equal to the play provided forbetweencertain parts of the device. Also the invent-ion has in vlew animproved means whereby the time of contact between the two electrodes,

11128 be advanced or retarded.

ther objects will readily appear to those familiar with the art as zhenature of the invention is better unders ood.

In the accompanying drawings, showing a preferable embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cylinder head portion ofan internal combustion engine, showing the same equipped with a make andbreak sparking device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is an end view showing the general relation of partscooperating with the-sparking device.

ig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the "cylinder andthe attached sparkmg devices. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showingmore clearly the mounting and relation of the fixed and movableelectrodes, (the sparking hammer and anvil). Fig. 5 is a detailsectional'view on the line 5-5 of like reference characters designatecorresponding parts in the several figures of the invention. v

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the numeral 1designates the cylinder of an internal combustion motor, within the upor end of which is located a fixed insulate electrode 2 having a stembushing or plug 5 fitted in the cylinder wall. The outer endof the stemport-ion 3 of the fixed electrode 2 is designed to have a suitable wire.connection therewith which extends to one pole of a battery or othersource of electrical energy, the other )ole of which battery isconnected to a part 0 the cylinder, the whole being arranged in themanner Well known in this art.

The movable electrode consists of an arm 6 fixed on the inner end of arock shaft 7 extending through a suitable bushing 8 located in the wallof the cylinder, and carrying 11 on its outer end fportion a looseoperating 00 lar 9 capable 0 an independent slidin and limited rotativemovement on the sai electrode rock shaft 7.

The loose operating collar or hammer 9 is provided at one side thereofwith a grooved ub portion 10 loosely engaged by the stud or pm 11carried atone end of a swinging shifter arm 12 mounted on a suitablysupported adjusting shaft 13 which latter has rotated at the ratio ofone revolution to two.

of the crank, as is usual in explosive engines of the four cycle type.

It will also be understood that in a mul tiple cylinder engine the camshaft 17 carries a plurality of operating cams 16, each of whichcooperates with a sparking device, but as this is well understood in theart, a description of one s arking device-and its operating means .wilsuffice to give a proper understanding of the invention.

The. main presser spring 15 consists of a short stiff spring provided atits cam engaged end with a wear'block or head 18, over which wipes theoperative ortion of the; cam 16, and the free end oft c said spring orspring arm 15 is secured fast by means of the screws or equivalentfastenings 19 on the flat supporting side 20 rovided at one side of thebody portion-of t e operating collar or hammer 9.

In conjunction with the main presser spring 15, a distinctive feature ofthe present invention resides in the employment of a relief spring 21encircling the collar or hammer 9 and secured fast at one end thereto,preferably by means of the fastenings 19. The ring '21 is of U form andthe movable end t iereof, as at 22, is pivotally connected to one end ofa connecting link 23 the short end of which link loosely receives acoupling in or anvil 23 projecting through the perfbrated keeper ears 24formed. on the operating collar 9. The holes through the ears 24 arelarger than the 'diameter of the pin or anvil 23 so as to permit of alimited rotary play for the collar or hammer 9 independent of the fastshaft collar 25 secured fast on the shaft 7 between the collar or hammer9 and the cylinder head. The said collar 25 is pro vided'at one side ofthe shaft with a strike projection 26 adapted to be engagedby a taplpet27 onv a suitably operated longitudina y movable starting shaft 28, towhich latter part, however, no claim is made herein. The upper end ofthe collar 25-above the rock shaft is provided with a holding pin 29 towhichare connected one end-of the oppositely arranged equalizing springs30 and 31 having fixed points of attachment on the engine the cam 16engages the spring 15 and swings J the same to the right, (accordin tothe position shown. in F1g. 1), the movable electrode is carried againstthe fixed electrode, which movement will take place under the increasingtension of the spring 15, the throw of the cam 16 being such that-the sring 15 will not run off of the cam. until a ter contact between theelectrodes has. been made,-thus flexing more or less the spring orspring arm 15 before it leaves the cam. WVhen this takes place,-the sring 30 will sharply contract the arm so t l iat its momentum carries itpast the vertical, whereupon the spring 31 asserts itself with theresult that the movable electrode will continue to vibrate with greatlydiminishing frequency and through a greatly diminishing arc, till theaction of the springs is equalized, and during the contmuanee of. thevibrating movement the spark will be maintained.

latitude of adjustmentand takes the strain off of the spring 15. As theresult, the mechanism can be set so that the electrode 6 It will-alsobe' .noted that the relief spring 21 permits of a will engage electrode2 a little in advance of the time that it would otherwise be permitted,and the relief spring will leave the presser spring and yet keep themechanism in perfect time and continue to do so until the wear is equalto the play between the fast and loose collars.

I claim:

1. A sparking device coi'nprising a fixed and a movable electrode, aresilient spring connected to the movable electrode, oppositely disposedyielding members acting to hold the movable electrode normally out ofcontact with the fixed electrode, a cam located in operative relation tosaid spring, and means for shifting said spring to vary the timeofcontact of the cam therewith.

2. In a sparking device, the combimition with fixed and movableelectrodes, a collar rigidly connected with the movable electrode,oppositely disposed yielding members between which said collar is heldwhereby said movable electrode is held out of contact with the fixedelectrode, a spring member operatively connected with said collar, :1can] located in o erative relation to said spring member, anr means forshifting said spring member to vary the time of contact of the camtherefor.

3. In a sparking device, the combination with fixed and movableelectrodes, of a rock shaft carrying the movable electrode, a fixedshaft collar mounted on the rock shaft and having yielding springconnections with the engine, a coupling pin, a loose operating collarmounted on the rock shaft, and loosely receiving the coupling pin so asto have :1 limited play thereon, a cam engaged main presser springcarried by the loose collar and a relief spring also carried by theloose collar and having a self-adjusting connection with the couplingpin.

4. In a sparking device, the combination with the fixed and movableelectrodes, a fast collar on the shaft having yielding springconnections with the engine and provided -with a laterally projectingcou )ling pin, a

loose operating collar longitudinally shiftable on the shaft and looselyreceiving said pin so as to have a limited play thereon, a main camengaged presser spring carried by the loose collar, a relief springencircling the loose collar and' connected at one end there to, theother. end of said spring having a loose link connection with said couling pin,

and means for shifting the loose co ar.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresenceof two subscribing witnesses, this llth day of April 1907.

' CHARLES R. .GREUTER. W'itnesses:

G. W. lvlA'r'nnson', Mann Ig- MATHESON.

